Hong Kong: Catholic cardinal and 5 others convicted for fund mismanagement

A 90-year-old Catholic cardinal and five others in Hong Kong were fined after being found guilty Friday of failing to register a now-defunct fund that aimed to help people arrested in the widespread protests three years ago.

Cardinal Joseph Zen, a retired bishop and a vocal democracy advocate of the city, arrived at court in a black outfit and used a walking stick.

He was first arrested in May on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces under a Beijing-imposed National Security Law.

His arrest sent shockwaves through the Catholic community, although the Vatican only stated it was monitoring the development of the situation closely.

While Zen and other activists at the trial have not yet been charged with national security-related charges, they were charged with failing to properly register the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which helped pay medical and legal fees for arrested protesters beginning in 2019.

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It ceased operations in October 2021.

Zen, alongside singer Denise Ho, scholar Hui Po Keung, former pro-democracy lawmakers Margaret Ng and Cyd Ho, were trustees of the fund.

They were each fined 4,000 Hong Kong dollars ($512).

A sixth defendant, Sze Ching-wee, was the fund’s secretary and was fined HK$2500 ($320).